The New York Mets have dropped consecutive games and have slipped a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the NL East. For Pete Alonso—a cornerstone of the Mets franchise and one of the game’s most feared sluggers—the last two nights have been a sobering reminder that even stars stumble.

As manager Carlos Mendoza’s crew has been reminded all too often lately, there is a need to drive in runners on base. And an occasional jolt over the fence wouldn’t hurt, either.

The Mets dropped their second straight game on Monday, falling against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, but Juan Soto continued to fill his stat sheet in a way he never has.